Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 23
Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention
False Renunciation Exposed
यानि रूपाणि जगृहे इन्द्रो हयजिहीर्षया । तानि पापस्य खण्डानि लिङ्गं खण्डमिहोच्यते ॥ २३ ॥
yāni rūpāṇi jagṛhe indro haya-jihīrṣayā tāni pāpasya khaṇḍāni liṅgaṁ khaṇḍam ihocyate
گھوڑا چھیننے کی خواہش میں اندر نے جو جو فقیرانہ روپ اختیار کیے، وہ سب گناہ کے حصّے تھے؛ یہاں انہیں پाखنڈ کی علامتیں کہا گیا ہے۔
According to Vedic civilization, sannyāsa is one of the essential items in the program of the varṇāśrama institution. One should accept sannyāsa according to the paramparā system of the ācāryas. At the present moment, however, many so-called sannyāsīs or mendicants have no understanding of God consciousness. Such sannyāsa was introduced by Indra because of his jealousy of Mahārāja Pṛthu, and what he introduced is again appearing in the Age of Kali. Practically none of the sannyāsīs in this age are bona fide. No one can introduce any new system into the Vedic way of life; if one does so out of malice, he is to be known as a pāṣaṇḍī, or atheist. In the Vaiṣṇava Tantra it is said:
FAQs
This verse states that the disguises Indra adopted to steal the sacrificial horse were actually fragments of sin, becoming known as “khaṇḍa-liṅga,” partial signs of irreligion.
In the narrative, Indra feared losing prestige due to King Pṛthu’s powerful Ashvamedha sacrifices, and out of envy he attempted to obstruct the yajña by stealing the horse.
It cautions that when ego and envy drive us to imitate righteousness for selfish ends, our “religious appearance” becomes a distorted fragment of dharma; sincerity and humility protect spiritual practice from becoming hypocrisy.